I have a 5th wheel RV equipped with a Go Power GP-PWM-30-UL solar charge controller, a 1200 watt inverter, one solar panel, and two 72AH deep cycle flooded batteries. I'm contemplating upgrading to a larger battery, possibly a 460AH option. My solar controller should be compatible, but I'm concerned that the solar panel alone might not be sufficient. My main use for power is a 12V fridge and I need reliable battery time, particularly while driving. Any thoughts or recommendations on my setup?
2 Answers
Your needs really depend on how you plan to recharge the battery aside from solar. Since you're using a full-size fridge, that plays a big role too. Just so you know, a small 12V chest fridge will draw much less power compared to a larger RV upright fridge. Make sure to calculate your total power needs based on your specific fridge's amp draw to see how long your current setup can last.
Your current setup should work just fine for running the fridge while traveling. You might want to consider adding a 12V-12V 18A DC converter since the vehicle's alternator isn't ideal for fully recharging lithium batteries. With a good converter, you can easily run the fridge off the vehicle without issues. Just a heads up, your 160W solar panel is likely only good for maintaining the charge of your current batteries rather than significantly recharging them after a full discharge, especially without ample sunlight input post-trip.
My fridge states an average amp draw of 73 watts (about 6.1 amps at 12 volts). I mainly want battery power while towing the RV and for emergency situations. Do you think upgrading to the new battery will significantly help?